Extracted Text

The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:

Reminiscences of Dilue Rose Harris

Mother prepared dinner for the white men afterdinner Mr. Smith explained to Father how hecame to be lost on the prairie. said he hadaplantation on the Brazos-river neare MajorBinghams. he with Monro Edwards had been toAfrica for aship load of African Negroes. MonroEdwards landed his part at sabine pass. he landedat Virginia point. it had been four days since theylanded. had only one day ration. the negros wereso enfeebled from close confinement they couldnot travel. he rested one day. would have reachhome the next night if he hadnt got lost. had beenabsent some time. didnt know th Brazos riverhad overflowed. said he had asister and herChildren on his plantation. her name was terry.asked Father if he knew them. Father did not.he knew Major Bingham. had met him in Harris-burg the fall before. didnt sup-pose there hadbeen any casual-ty or he would have heard asMr. Bingham lived twenty five 25 mils below.Mr. Smith asked uncle James to guard the Negrostill he and his men could sleep. the men slep. hecouldnot. said he had not had aletter or seenanews paper in six month. didnt know what wasgoing on in the world. was surprised that thepeoplepage 17 February 1834Ben F Smith and his Afrcans continupeople were without bread. said he had not seea white man woman or child except the shipscruain months had lived on sea bread and salt meat.had been chased three times by British Cruisersonce by aunited States man of war. said he wouldnot have run such arisk for awife. Father toldhim he had some brandy for medical use. advisedhim to take som after drinking aglass he went tosleep. uncle James guarded the Negroes. thenegroes didnt need watching. after dark they wentto sleep and didnt wake till morning. the negroeswere so destitute of clothing mother would notpermit us Children to go near them. next daythey cooked theire meat before they began eating.95

next morning Mr. Smith sent for Mr. Dyer paidfor the cattle bought more beeves asked Fatherpermssio to stay till he could send to his plantationfor assistance. Harvey Stafford offerd to go saidhe knew Frank Terry. after three of four day heand Frank Terry returned. Mr. Smith body serventmack came with them. brought awagon and teamand Clothing for the negross. Mack made themgo to the creeake and bathe and card thiereheads. after thy were dressed he marched themto the house for Moter and us little gils to seethem. Mack tried to learn them to make abow.page 18 Febuary 1834 the Africans negroeescontinuedthe negroes laughed and Catterd like monkeys.they didnt understand aword of English. all themen and boys in the neighborhood came to seethe wild Africns. Mr. Smith had gone to Mr.Staffords came back the next day was glad tomeet his nephew and servent. they had broughtMr. Smith ahorse and saddle. Mr. Smith had alarge scaffold built over a trench. mode a fireunder the Scaffold. bucherd the beeves. dryedthe meat over the fire. after afew day sent FrankTerry and Mack home with the negroes. the stockof Cattle on the place were for sale. Mr. Smithand Mr. Woodruf bought the Cattle. engageduncle James Wells to take charg till they couldmove the cattle. Mr. Woodrof was ababtis-preacher. mother asked him to preach in ourneighbor-hood. he faild to do so he lived nearColumbia. had alarge family. was ingage infarming. Mrssrs. Smith and Woodrof stay withus was very pleasant. the friend-ship formed atthat time betwen Mr. Smith and Father continuedas loung as they lived. when Mr. Smith baidMother good-by he told her he would send herabarel of flour as soon as aschooner came toBrazoria. she said she neve expeced to see abarelof flour again. we were very lonesome after ourcompny left as there were no school in theneighborhood